Minister highlights effectiveness of fishing protection measures in response to parliamentary inquiry

69 percent of fishing grounds within 300 meters of depth are completely or partially protected from trawling. Additionally, 56 percent of these areas are closed to trawling year-round. However, trawlers are permitted to fish for flatfish within 12 nautical miles during the summer months.

This information comes from Dennis Holm, a government minister, in response to a question from Bárður á Lakjuni, a member of parliament, regarding protected and closed fishing areas.

In 2014, an evaluation of spawning protections, trawling restrictions, and the emergency fishing ban was conducted. The results indicated that the spawning protections on the continental shelf are functioning as intended, effectively safeguarding spawning cod, to some extent protecting spawning haddock, but failing to safeguard spawning plaice.

The trawling bans help reduce pressure on fish stocks. Holm noted, however, that the primary purpose of most trawling restrictions established in the 1990s was to ensure that trawling does not harm fisheries that operate with hooks. The emergency fishing ban is also functioning as planned.

The results of the 2014 report are not updated, according to the minister, who provided a concrete example demonstrating the effectiveness of protection measures: the demersal fish on the Faroe Bank. These stocks have rebounded since the bank was closed to all fishing for 14 years, from 2008 to 2021.